Flexible tractor-track and operative wheel therefor.



J. HAY.

FLEXIBLE TRACTOR| TRACK AND OPERATIVE WHEEL THEREFOR.

MpnlcATxoN FILED :uur 1918.

5282,82?, y Patented @at 29, 19m

JOHN HAY, oF SAN Josie, cALIEoENIA.

FLEXIBLE TRACTOR-TRACK AND OPERATIVE WHEEL THEREEOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratentea oet. 2a, lele.

vApplication led July 1, 1918. Serial N o. 242,850.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN HAY, a subject of Great Britain, residing at San Jose, 1nr

the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flexible Tractor-Tracks and,

Operative Wheels Therefor, ofA which the -following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flexible 'tracks and operative wheeltherefor, as used on tractors of the track laying or .caterpillar type and the like andthe objects of my invention are:

First; to provide a lexible track for tractors that will have no pi voted joints or links and one in which the numberv of moving parts are reduced to a minimum.

Second; to provide a flexible track for tractors and operative wheel therefor in which the cost of manufacture and the upkeep is greatly reducedas compared to those of this class now in use.

Third; to provide a flexible track for tractors in which the tread members and guide rails of each member are integral and one in which the rseveral tread members are fastened together by flexible wire cables.

Fourth; to provide a flexible track for tractors invwhich the adjustment of the several parts and the removal of worn parts may be accomplished' with a minimum i amount of labor, and one in which no lubrication of the severa-l parts is needed.-

A further yo'bject is to generally improve this cla-ss of flexible tractor tracks and oper-- ative Wheel therefor so as to increase their usefulness, durability and eiieiencyl With these and other objects in view the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in the unique combination of' parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor details ofvconstruction may be resorted to within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Reference is to. be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification in which similarl reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side view of my flexible` tractor track and operative wheel therefor, part in'section, parts broken away.

Fig. 2 isa sectional view as shown on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the llexible track,

parts broken away.

' the operative wheel.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged .sectional view as shown on line 4 4 of Fig; 3.

My improvement in flexible tractor track and operative wheel therefor, forming the subject matter of the pres-'ant invention, comprises an operative wheel l made of cast iron or other suitabletmaterial and having a substantially lat tire or'outer rim 2. Equally spaced apart around the outer periphery of the rim 2 are shown a,.plurality ofopenings or slots3 which pass completely through the rim 2. The operative wheel l may be flexible cables are shownA at 8 and are fastened to eachI tread member, at each end thereof by means of clamps 9 and bolts 9B. The treads with the clamp 9 removed are shown at 9b. A plurality of the tread members being thus fastened to the flexible cables formja continuous flexible belt, the vguide rails forming a track adapted to receive rollers thereon of any suitable type, each Vtread member being so placed that the boss or tooth of each member engages a slot in The lower tread surface of each tread member has an overlapping flange l0 integral with the tread member and which overlaps the joint between adjacent tread members. An idler wheel Ais shown at ll'which may be mounted on suitable adjustable vbearings and is adapted to guide the endless flexible track inV its return to the operative wheel.V It will be readily seen from the foregoing description that I have eliminated all pivot joints in the flexible track and also that any tread member 'may be readily removed and a new one set in place without disturbing adjacenttread over the operative wheeland idler wheel 11a power driven by any suitable power operal' tread member to register with the slots in the operative wheel, no lubrication of the parts required.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A iexible tractor track and operative wheel therefor comprising a wheel made of cast iron or other suitable material and having a substantially flat rim or tire, said r1m -or tire having a plurality of rectangular shaped openings equally spaced apart y around the outer perillihery thereof, said openings communicating with the inner peripliery of said rim or tire, and positioned between the spokes of said wheel; a plurality of tread members; a plurality of flexible cables; means for clamping each tread member to the cables, thereby forming a belt or chain; a boss or tooth integral with each tread member, adapted to engage the openings in the rim or tire of said wheel as the belt or chain composed of the tread members and cables fastened together is` flexed over said wheel; transverse guide rails positioned a distance from each end of the tread .members and integral therewith, the guide rails of one tread member overlapping the guide rails of an adjacent tread .member, said guide rails being adapted to guide resaca? tween the spokes df said wheel; aplurality' of tread members;'a plurality of flexible cables, adapted to be clamped to the tread members; means for clamping each tread member to the cables; a boss or tooth integral with each tread member and positioned on the upper side thereof, said boss or tooth lof each tread member being adapted to engage a slot or opening 1n the rim or tire of the wheel; transverse guide rails positioned on the upperV side of the tread members, a distance from each end thereof and integral therewith, the guide rails of one tread member overlapping the guide rails of an adjacent tread member, said guide rails being v adapted to guidethe treads and bosses into engagement with the wheel rim and slots or openings therein, and to serve as tracks over which rollers may roll, substantially as shown and described.

lin testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

JOHN HAY.

Witnesses:

O. M. VRooMAN, COLIN KYLE.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Gommissionerl of Patents. Washington, '.D. G. 

